Facts & Figures
Key statistics and facts about the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — geography, people, economy, and climate at a glance.
Geography
Total area~40,643 km² (roughly the size of Switzerland)
Governorates3 — Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok
CapitalErbil (Hewlêr)
Highest peakHalgurd Mountain — 3,607 m, near the Iranian border
Major riversGreater Zab, Lesser Zab, Diyala, Khabur
BordersTurkey (north), Iran (east), Syria (west), Iraq (south)
TerrainZagros Mountains in the north and east; plains and foothills to the south
Highest passHamilton Road (Gali Ali Beg) — one of the most scenic mountain roads in the Middle East
People & language
Population~6–7 million (KRI residents)
Main ethnicityKurdish (~85%)
MinoritiesAssyrian Christians, Yazidis, Turkmens, Arabs, Armenians
Main languageKurdish — two dialects: Sorani (south & east) and Kurmanji (north & west)
Other languagesArabic, Assyrian/Syriac, Turkish
Literacy rate~90% (rising; significant investment in education since 2003)
Universities20+ universities including University of Sulaimani (est. 1968) and Salahaddin University (est. 1968)
DiasporaLarge Kurdish diaspora in Germany, Sweden, UK, USA, and Australia
Economy
Main industryOil & gas — KRI holds significant petroleum reserves
AgricultureWheat, barley, tobacco, fruit; historically a breadbasket of Iraq
CurrencyIraqi Dinar (IQD)
GDP per capitaHigher than the Iraqi national average
Tourism growthRapidly growing sector; domestic and regional tourism surged post-2003
Main trading partnersTurkey (dominant), Iran, Europe
Special economic zonesMultiple free-trade zones near Erbil and Ibrahim Khalil border crossing
Climate
Summer (Jun–Sep)Hot and dry in the plains — 35–45°C in Erbil. Cooler at altitude (20–28°C in mountain resorts).
Autumn (Oct–Nov)Mild and pleasant. Good for hiking. Rain begins in November.
Winter (Dec–Feb)Cold; heavy snow in the mountains. Skiing possible near Rawanduz and Amadiyah.
Spring (Mar–May)Best season — green hills, wildflowers, mild temperatures. Nowruz (21 March) is a national celebration.
Best time to visit: March to May for lush landscapes; October to November for mild hiking weather. Avoid the peak summer heat in the plains if you can.
Religion & communities
Sunni Islam~75%The majority faith among the Kurdish population
Christianity~5%Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac churches with ancient roots in the region
Yazidi~3–5%An ancient syncretic faith; the Yazidi heartland is centred around Lalish
Other~15%Including Kakais (Yarsanis), Shia Muslims, and others
The Kurdistan Region is one of the most religiously diverse areas in the Middle East. Religious minorities have historically found relative safety and tolerance here — though the Yazidi community suffered greatly during the 2014 IS genocide.
VisitKurdistan.com is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with any government tourism board or official tourism authority. Figures are estimates and may vary by source.